Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI:
“All that we struggle for are for the real people of India. They may not know who the President of the country is or where Kolkata or Mumbai is, but these are the real people of India”. ‘Mahananda’, a biopic based on the life of writer-social activist Mahasweta Devi, brings to life the spirit behind these words, which the Director believes should continue to animate and ignite everyone. The Bengali film, which figures in the Indian Panorama – Feature Film section of the 53rd edition of IFFI, the International Film Festival of India, has been presented to festival delegates
Addressing festival delegates at an IFFI Table Talks / Press Conference in Goa today, the Director Arindam Sil highlighted how important a subject to work upon it is in these very complex times. “This is the time to talk about the principles of life, as very few people nowadays actually lead a life of principles. Mahasweta Devi was one of the few people who lived a life based on principles. I feel it’s time we taught our children to lead a life of principles.”
So, what is it that has inspired him to make the film? Nothing less than a sense of moral responsibility, says Arindam Sil. “I felt that it is the moral responsibility of filmmakers like us to bring forward and talk about a personality like Mahasweta Devi who led a life of principles. She is someone whom we are all trying to forget. Mahasweta Devi is taught as a subject in American universities. In India’s universities however, we don’t even talk about her!”
